Deyanira Cuiriz was celebrating her birthday in August 2012 when two men beat her father. As they drove away, she fired a gun into their truck, striking one of the men in the spine and paralyzing him.

Published at 12:12 PM PST on Feb 16, 2017

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A state appeals court has ruled that the mandatory life sentence handed down to a Bay Area woman who shot and gravely wounded a man who had just beaten her father is unconstitutional.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Deyanira Cuiriz had been sentenced to 27 years to life in prison for attempted voluntary manslaughter, mayhem and shooting at an occupied vehicle. On Tuesday, the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco ruled the sentence was excessive and reduced it to 12 years.

Cuiriz, of Richmond, and her family had been out celebrating her 19th birthday in August 2012 when two men beat her father. As the men drove away, she fired a gun into their truck, striking one of the men in the spine and paralyzing him.